California leaders condemned President Trump on Monday night after he suggested Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego if it develops a nuclear weapon. Speaking at a rally in Nebraska, Trump justified the Iran war as necessary for "keeping the world safe," adding there could be strikes on U.S. cities. Gov.
Gavin Newsom called the remarks "deranged and dangerous," posting that after sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Trump now says foreign enemies should "take out" L. A. and San Diego. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria stated his city was not "collateral damage" and not "expendable," demanding it be kept out of "reckless war talk." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the comments "dangerous" and said they could "potentially compromise" the city's safety, noting the president's role is to protect, not threaten, American lives.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In his speech, Trump also suggested the Iran war was "going to end very soon" without providing details. Last week, Trump turned down Iran's latest cease-fire proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart nuclear talks in exchange for U.S. concessions.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing